Real Madrid-Union Berlin is a match from the first day of the Champions League group stage and is played Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.: lineups, predictions.
Real Madrid returns to savor again the emotions of what is, for all intents and purposes, “its” competition, four months after that humiliating 4-0 defeat in the return semifinal with Manchester City, a night when Carlo Ancelotti’s men were forced to reluctantly lay down the scepter of European champions.
The Italian coach in the round finds Napoli again, which he led for a season and a half from 2018 to 2019, without any great fortunes. But in addition to the reigning Italian champions Azzurri, the Blancos will have to contend with freshman Union Berlin, in its first participation in the premier competition, and Portuguese side Braga. The opener is at the Bernabeu with the Germans, who in the last days of the market drafted former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci, who is now on a break with the Bianconeri club. Earlier from Serie A, Robin Gosens, who was among the stars of Inter Milan’s ride to the Istanbul final last year, had also arrived in the Teutonic capital. That of Union, a team that until 2019 had never even played in the Bundesliga, is a true football fairy tale. After the historic promotion and having played all the minor cups (Conference and Europa League) in the last few seasons, it is now the turn of the Champions League, where the men led by Urs Fischer could be among the surprises thanks to their well-tested game.
First time Union Berlin
In the league, however, after two resounding victories with Mainz and Darmstadt, came two setbacks with Leipzig and Wolfsburg, direct competitors for Europe.
Gosens
In contrast, Real Madrid, which has not stopped winning since La Liga began again, is racking up victories. Five wins in as many matches for the Merengues, despite some not particularly convincing (and dominant) performances. In the last round, Ancelotti’s men scored their second comeback success in a row, upending Real Sociedad through Valverde and Joselu. Two weeks earlier it had been Getafe’s turn: the decisive goal on that occasion had been scored by Bellingham, the star purchase of Madrid’s summer, who has already scored five goals since donning the camiseta blanca. The English midfielder, deployed in the three-quarter by Ancelotti, is not trying to miss Vinicius, who is still far from returning to the field.
The Prediction
Although not exciting, perhaps also due to major absences such as Vinicius’, Real Madrid is continuing to win. And they should do so even in its natural habitat, the Champions League, taking advantage of Union’s lack of experience at these levels. The total goals will most likely be at least three.
The probable lineups of Real Madrid-Union Berlin
- REAL MADRID (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Nacho; Modrić, Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Joselu, Rodrygo.
- UNION BERLIN (5-3-2): Rønnow; Gosens, Diogo Leite, Knoche, Doekhi, Trimmel; Král, Tousart, Laïdouni; Becker, Behrens.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
